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- All Subjects: Cancer
- Creators: Barrett, The Honors College
- Creators: Department of Psychology
- Member of: Barrett, The Honors College Thesis/Creative Project Collection
- Resource Type: Text
- Status: Published
Description
The purpose of this project is to analyze the current state of cancer nanomedicine and its challenges. Cancer is the second most deadly illness in the United States after heart disease. Nanomedicine, the use of materials between 1 and 100 nm to for the purpose of addressing healthcare-related problems, is particularly suited for treating it since nanoparticles have properties such as high surface area-to-volume ratios and favorable drug release profiles that make them more suitable for tasks such as consistent drug delivery to tumor tissue. The questions posed are: What are the current nanomedical treatments for cancer? What are the technical, social, and legal challenges related to nanomedical treatments and how can they be overcome? To answer the questions mentioned above, information from several scientific papers on nanomedical treatments for cancer as well as from social science journals was synthesized. Based on the findings, nanomedicine has a wide range of applications for cancer drug delivery, detection, and immunotherapy. The main technical challenge related to nanomedical treatments is navigating through biological barriers such as the mononuclear phagocyte system, the kidney, the blood-brain barrier, and the tumor microenvironment. Current approaches to meeting this challenge include altering the size, shape, and charge of nanoparticles for easier passage. The main social and legal challenge related to nanomedical treatments is the difficulty of regulating them due to factors such as the near impossibility of detecting nanowaste. Current approaches to meeting this challenge include the use of techniques such as scanning tunneling microscopy and atomic force microscopy to help distinguish nanowaste from the surroundings. More research will have to be done in these and other areas to enhance a major cancer-fighting tool.
ContributorsAbraham, Alfred Francy (Author) / Brian, Jennifer (Thesis director) / Liu, Yan (Committee member) / Materials Science and Engineering Program (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2021-05
Description
Immunotherapy is an effective treatment for cancer which enables the patient's immune system to recognize tumor cells as pathogens. In order to design an individualized treatment, the t cell receptors (TCR) which bind to a tumor's unique antigens need to be determined. We created a convolutional neural network to predict the binding affinity between a given TCR and antigen to enable this.
ContributorsCai, Michael Ray (Author) / Lee, Heewook (Thesis director) / Meuth, Ryan (Committee member) / Computer Science and Engineering Program (Contributor, Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2020-12
Description
Children with cancer can experience decreased emotional health along with deteriorating
physical health compared to children without cancer. Many studies have been done to examine the effects of emotional distress and mental health on the cancer patient, as well as the role of familial support. It was found that children with cancer may suffer from depression, anxiety, PTSD, and socio-emotional problems as a result of the trauma of being diagnosed and treated for a pervasive, life-threatening disease. Late effects may also worsen co-morbid mental health disorders. Childhood cancer patients who experience co-morbid mental health problems of depression and anxiety end up having a longer duration of recovery, as well as a worsened outcome than others with a single disorder (Massie, 2004). It was also shown that family members are affected emotionally and mentally from dealing with childhood cancer. Not only is the cancer patient at risk for PTSD during or after treatment, but also family members (National Cancer Institute, 2015). Siblings of the child with cancer may experience feelings of loneliness, fear, and anxiety, as the parent’s attention is focused on the child suffering with cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute (2015), familial problems can affect the child’s ability to adjust to the diagnosis and treatment in a positive way. However, children with strong familial and social support adjust easier to living with cancer. A common theme found in literature is that regular mental health checkups during and after cancer treatment is important for quality of life. Therefore, it is important for all childhood cancer patients and their families to receive information about mental health awareness, as well as therapeutic interventions that are developed for families caring for a child with cancer.
physical health compared to children without cancer. Many studies have been done to examine the effects of emotional distress and mental health on the cancer patient, as well as the role of familial support. It was found that children with cancer may suffer from depression, anxiety, PTSD, and socio-emotional problems as a result of the trauma of being diagnosed and treated for a pervasive, life-threatening disease. Late effects may also worsen co-morbid mental health disorders. Childhood cancer patients who experience co-morbid mental health problems of depression and anxiety end up having a longer duration of recovery, as well as a worsened outcome than others with a single disorder (Massie, 2004). It was also shown that family members are affected emotionally and mentally from dealing with childhood cancer. Not only is the cancer patient at risk for PTSD during or after treatment, but also family members (National Cancer Institute, 2015). Siblings of the child with cancer may experience feelings of loneliness, fear, and anxiety, as the parent’s attention is focused on the child suffering with cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute (2015), familial problems can affect the child’s ability to adjust to the diagnosis and treatment in a positive way. However, children with strong familial and social support adjust easier to living with cancer. A common theme found in literature is that regular mental health checkups during and after cancer treatment is important for quality of life. Therefore, it is important for all childhood cancer patients and their families to receive information about mental health awareness, as well as therapeutic interventions that are developed for families caring for a child with cancer.
ContributorsBuchanan, Chantel Tatiana (Author) / Seeley, Bridget (Thesis director) / Bradley, Robert (Committee member) / Department of Psychology (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-05
Description
Cytokines induced by inflammasome has been used for blood cancer treatments, yet these treatments have been less successful in the solid tumor microenvironment. Here precise-morphology DNA origami structures were implemented to accurately test the effect and mechanism of activation in the NLRP3 inflammasome. THP1 WT cells, a macrophage cell line, were treated with eleven different DNA origami structures. The inflammasome activation of two cytokines, Interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β) and Interferon beta (IFN-β), was measured using HEK Blue IL-1β cells, HEK Blue IFN-β cells, and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Differences in activation signaling have the potential to provide the characterization required to address the intrinsic complexity of modulating an immune response. It is hoped that DNA origami will help induce more inflammation for solid tumors. The DNA origami was tested in three different volumes: 1 μL, 5 μL, and 10 μL. Overall, the origami that showed promising results were Mg Square. Tetrahedral and P53 block also showed potential but not as well as Mg square. Further testing of more DNA origami structures and testing them in mice are key to the success of targeted cancer immunotherapies in the neoadjuvant setting.
ContributorsGreenwald, Elinor Vera (Co-author) / Ariola, Amanda (Co-author) / Ning, Bo (Thesis director) / Zhang, Fei (Committee member) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-05
Description
Bexarotene is a synthetic analog of 9-cis-retinoic acid and ligand for the retinoid X receptor which has a history of clinical success in the treatment of T-cell lymphoma. Bexarotene has also shown potential for treating a variety of other cancers, which we seek to explore in this project. The potential of bexarotene lies in its unique mechanisms and wide application, however, it has shown limited effectiveness thus far in the treatment of breast and lung cancer, with moderate levels of efficacy and symptoms such as cutaneous toxicity, hyperlipidemia, and hypothyroidism. For this project several analogs of bexarotene were synthesized with the intentions of making a more potent ligand that can be used to treat these carcinomas while minimizing harmful side effects. We were successful in synthesizing a large variety of analogs over the span of roughly two years, including iso-chroman derivatives of bexarotene and NEt-TMN, in addition to a new series of analogs of the reported NEt-TMN derivative. These analogs were analyzed via melting point determination and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to confirm the molecular structure and determine purity, and it is our intent to continue with further testing of these compounds to determine their effectiveness as well as the side effects they are likely to cause with levels of toxicity. Recent studies suggest that continuing the analysis of these compounds and other rexinoids like the ones described herein is a worthwhile endeavor as similar rexinoids have shown in numerous assays to be more potent and less toxic in the treatment of cancers when compared with bexarotene.
ContributorsMoen, Grant Anthony (Author) / Wagner, Carl (Thesis director) / Deutch, Charles (Committee member) / School of Social and Behavioral Sciences (Contributor) / School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-05
Description
Nutritional support offered before and during chemotherapy treatment is proven to improve the outcomes of treatment (Bernhardson, 2016). This project seeks to examine current forms of nutritional support offered to patients, as well as the models of care and support teams in cancer treatment centers. The basis for this project incorporated personal experiences at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Gilbert, Arizona as well as research into the work of clinical oncology dietitians. An intense interest in food videos and blogs also informed this project, and was incorporated in the hope of providing chemotherapy patients a platform to discover recipes specific to their unique situation. The combination of this research was utilized to create several videos which demonstrated specific recipes beneficial for patients as well as creating a platform for this particular population. While nutritional support can take multiple forms, the focus of nutritional support surrounds symptom management. The common side effects of chemotherapy such as nausea, mucositis (mouth sores), and extreme weight loss were taken into account. Recipes were formulated to directly address these conditions and each recipe was broken down into the benefits of both macronutrients and micronutrients. In addition to formulating specific recipes and videos, barriers to proper nutritional support were examined and explained. These barriers include understaffing of clinical dietitians at cancer treatment centers, a patient's lack of transportation to and from treatments, as well as an overwhelming viewpoint that nutritional support is only required for extreme cases of malnutrition. Combatting these barriers and offering more forms of nutritional support will help to increase a patient's positive response to treatment, manage their symptoms, and improve their overall quality of life.
ContributorsMonteilh, Christina Eleanor (Author) / Levinson, Simin (Thesis director) / Martinelli, Sarah (Committee member) / Harrington Bioengineering Program (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2018-12
Description
Cancer is a disease that has no bias based on race, gender, sexuality, socioeconomic status, or religious beliefs. Millions upon millions of people are affected every day by this disease in many different ways. In order to show support and raise funds for these people to help with treatment costs, housing, and much more American Cancer Society created and event called Relay for Life. Relay for Life is an event that many people may describe as a walk-a-thon fundraiser, but to those who have had a personal experience with cancer they understand that Relay is much more. Relay for Life is more than a fundraiser; it is an event that brings hope, love, and care into a community. Many people across the country show up to a Relay event to hear the success stories of those who are in remission, show support for their family and friends who are still fighting, and simply volunteer in order to further remember those that they lost to cancer.
The impacts that Relay for Life supplies go beyond monetary value and branch into the world of emotional and mental value. The stories that you hear from cancer patients, caregivers, survivors, friends, and family all show the appreciation for this event even in the smallest of communities. Looking at the Relay for Life website you can see the thousands of submissions detailing exactly why that individual participates in this event. You can read stories of sorrow, drive, friendships that have formed, and hope that has sprouted because of Relay for Life. An event such as this that celebrates the fight and works to give the world more birthdays truly empowers its participants to make a difference and make a connection with each other.
In this project, I set out to reveal the importance of Relay for Life that can be seen and heard through everyone who participates across the nation. It is important to take both personal experience and monetary value into account when looking at how Relay has had a positive impact on the lives of those affected by cancer, but when looking at the broad picture it becomes obvious how this event means more than money.
The impacts that Relay for Life supplies go beyond monetary value and branch into the world of emotional and mental value. The stories that you hear from cancer patients, caregivers, survivors, friends, and family all show the appreciation for this event even in the smallest of communities. Looking at the Relay for Life website you can see the thousands of submissions detailing exactly why that individual participates in this event. You can read stories of sorrow, drive, friendships that have formed, and hope that has sprouted because of Relay for Life. An event such as this that celebrates the fight and works to give the world more birthdays truly empowers its participants to make a difference and make a connection with each other.
In this project, I set out to reveal the importance of Relay for Life that can be seen and heard through everyone who participates across the nation. It is important to take both personal experience and monetary value into account when looking at how Relay has had a positive impact on the lives of those affected by cancer, but when looking at the broad picture it becomes obvious how this event means more than money.
ContributorsTrisko, Rebecca Lynn (Author) / Roen, Duane (Thesis director) / Wales, Anna (Committee member) / Division of Teacher Preparation (Contributor, Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-05
Description
Bats (order Chiroptera) are the longest lived mammals for their size, with particularly extreme longevity evolving in the family Vespertilionidae, or vesper bats. Because of this, researchers have proposed using bats to study ageing and cancer suppression. Here, we study gene duplications across mammalian genomes and show that, similar to previous findings in elephants, bats have experienced duplications of the tumor suppressor gene TP53, including five genomic copies in the genome of the little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus) and two copies in Brandt's bat (Myotis brandtii). These species can live 37 and 41 years, respectively, despite having an adult body mass of only ~7 grams. We use evolutionary genetics and next generation sequencing approaches to show that positive selection has acted on the TP53 locus across bats, and two recently duplicated TP53 gene copies in the little brown bat are both highly conserved and expressed, suggesting they are functional. We also report an extraordinary genomic copy number expansion of the tumor suppressor gene FBXO31 in the common ancestor of vesper bats which accelerated in the Myotis lineage, leading to 34\u201457 copies and the expression of 20 functional FBXO31 homologs in Brandt's bat. As FBXO31 directs the degradation of MDM2, which is a negative regulator of TP53, we suggest that increased expression of both FBXO31 and TP53 may be related to an enhanced DNA-damage response to genotoxic stress brought on by long lifespans and rapid metabolic rates in bats.
ContributorsSchneider-Utaka, Aika Kunigunda (Author) / Maley, Carlo (Thesis director) / Wilson Sayres, Melissa (Committee member) / Tollis, Marc (Committee member) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor, Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2018-12
Description
In cancer, various genetic and epigenetic alterations cause cancer cells to hyperproliferate and to bypass the survival and migration mechanisms that typically regulate healthy cells. The focal adhesion kinase (FAK) gene produces FAK, a protein that has been implicated in tumor progression in various cancers. Compared with normal tissue counterparts, FAK is overexpressed in many cancers. FAK is therefore a promising cancer drug target due to its demonstrated role in cancer invasion and metastasis and inhibition of FAK is important to achieve an optimal tumor response. Small molecule FAK inhibitors have been shown to decrease tumor growth and metastasis in several preclinical trials. However, these inhibitors focus narrowly on the enzymatic portion of FAK and neglect its scaffolding function, leaving FAK’s scaffolding of oncogenic drivers intact. Paxillin, a major focal adhesion-associated protein, binds to FAK, enabling it to localize to focal adhesions, and this is essential for FAK’s activation and function. Therefore, disrupting the protein-protein interaction between FAK and paxillin has been hypothesized to prevent tumor progression. The binding of FAK to paxillin at its focal adhesion targeting (FAT) domain is mediated by two highly conserved leucine-rich sequences, the leucine-aspartic acid (LD) motifs LD2 and LD4. The purpose of this project was to develop novel stapled LD2 peptide analogs that target the protein-protein interaction of FAT to LD2. Peptide stapling was performed to enhance the pharmacological performance of the LD2 peptide analogs. Based on the native LD2 peptide sequence, stapled LD2 peptide analogs were developed with the intent to improve efficacy of cell permeability, while maintaining or improving FAK binding. The LD2 peptide analogs were characterized via surface plasmon resonance, fluorescence polarization, immunofluorescence, and circular dichroism spectroscopy. Successful LD2 stapled peptide analogs can be therapeutically relevant inhibitors of the FAT-LD2 protein-protein interaction in cancer and have the potential for greater efficacy in FAK inhibition, proteolytic resistance, and cell permeability, which is key in preventing tumor progression in cancer.
ContributorsNott, Rohini (Author) / Gould, Ian R. (Thesis director) / Marlowe, Timothy A. (Committee member) / Cance, William G. (Committee member) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor) / Dean, W.P. Carey School of Business (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-05
Description
Developments in structural biology has led to advancements in drug design and vaccine development. By better understanding the macromolecular structure, rational choices can be made to improve factors in such as binding affinity, while reducing promiscuity and off-target interactions, improving the medicines of tomorrow. The majority of diseases have a macromolecular basis where rational drug development can make a large impact. Two challenging protein targets of different medical relevance have been investigated at different stages of determining their structures with the ultimate goal of advancing in drug development. The first protein target is the CapBCA membrane protein complex, a virulence factor from the bacterium Francisella tularensis and the causative agent of tularemia and classified as a potential bioterrorism weapon by the United States. Purification of the individual protein targets from the CapBCA complex is a key and challenging step that has been, so far, a limiting factor towards the structure determination of the whole complex. Here, the purification protocols for the CapB and CapC subunits have been establish, which will allow us to progress towards biophysical and structural studies. The second protein target investigated in this thesis is the catalytically active Taspase1. Taspase1 functions as a non-oncogene addiction protease that coordinates cancer cell proliferation and apoptosis and has been found to be overexpressed in many primary human cancers. Here the structure is presented to 3.04A with the goal of rational drug design of Taspase1 inhibitors. Development of Taspase1 inhibitors has no completion in the drug discovery arena and would function as a new anti-cancer therapeutic. Solving the structures of medically relevant proteins such as these is critical towards rapidly developing treatments and prevention of old and new diseases.
ContributorsJernigan, Rebecca J. (Author) / Fromme, Petra (Thesis director) / Hansen, Debra T. (Committee member) / Martin-Garcia, Jose M. (Committee member) / School of Molecular Sciences (Contributor) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2020-05